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Ek Thi Daayan:

Critic's Rating: 

Cast: Emraan Hashmi, Konkana Sen Sharma, Huma Qureshi, Kalki Koechlin

Direction: Kannan Iyer

Genre: Thriller

Duration: 2 hours 14 minutes

A young boy is obsessed with the occult. As he grows up, he takes his obsession to giddy lengths—often letting the lines between reality and fiction blur.

When you meet the unassuming, bespectacled Kannan Iyer in person, you will never guess that he's the man who has served up one of Indian cinema's taut supernatural thriller's Ek Thi Daayan. It's piping hot (it's got Emraan Hashmi--who calls himself a tiger in bed), terribly scary and yet it's aesthetically garnished.

Set in contemporary Mumbai; the film tells you a believable story of Bobo(Emraan) the magician, who is a master in his craft. But when you scratch the surface, scars from his growing up years come to light.

Cut to Bobo's childhood. He's a curly-haired, cute moppet(Vishesh; he plays the young Emraan) who grows up reading about witch-craft and is inexplicably drawn to magic. He doesn't realise that his fascination is fast becoming an obsession. Things reach a head, when his widower father (Pawan Malhotra) brings home a new bride Diana ( Konkana Sen Sharma). The boy equates a step-mother to a daayan(witch) and his young mind plays tricks with him.

You find yourself biting your nails in nervousness and digging your heels hard into the carpet in the cinema hall as this spook-fest unfolds.

Woven beautifully between the world of magic, occult and suspense, Ek Thi Daayan, makes for compulsive viewing, providing some spine-chilling thrills at short gaps. The narrative in the first half is almost faultless. There are some nice romantic moments between the lead pair Emraan and Huma and a couple of songs too. But just when you start to relax and flow with the emotions, along comes a scary twist that jolts you back to the edge of your seat. The climax is a bit stereotype of horror/supernatural thrillers but that's a minor hiccup in an otherwise cleverly done film of this genre.

Vishal Bharadwal's music and Gulzar's lyrics—especially kaali kaali, yaaram and lautungi main are outstanding. Of the performers—Konkana Sen Sharma and Emraan Hashmi are in top form. Huma Qureshi, Kalki Koechlin, Pawan Malhotra and the child actor, Vishesh are very competent.

Kannan Iyer makes an impressive debut...and kudos to Ekta Kapoor and Vishal Bharadwaj for allowing him to bring his daayan to life without compromises. This film doesn't play to the galleries nor is it one of those brain-dead movies that Bollywood churns out as assembly line.

Note: You may not like the film if transcendental stuff doesn't move you.

Commando - A One Man Army:

Critic's Rating: 

Cast: Vidyut Jammwal, Pooja Chopra, Jaideep Ahlawat

Direction: Dilip Ghosh

Genre: Action

Duration: 2 hours 4 minutes

Story: A girl on the run bumps into a commando from the Indian army. Does he manage to rescue her from the dangerous, psychotic hoodlums who are chasing her?

Movie Review: Dilip Ghosh's Commando has a linear narrative. Set in North India, the story can even be termed archaic. It's got a hero, a heroine and a villain. Small-town goon AK-74(Jaideep Ahlawat) is irresistibly drawn to the local, fire-brand beauty Simrit Kaur(Pooja Chopra). When she resists, the bad man threatens her. She elopes to escape his advances and naturally, she's chased by AK's band of baddies. Fate smiles on her when she accidentally bumps into Karanveer Dogra(Vidyut Jammwal); a commando; so well-trained in guerrilla warfare; he can be rightly called a one man army.

The action shifts to the forests. The commando and the girl break into a run with the villains, local forest officials and killer dogs hot in pursuit. From here on, the film picks up tempo. Enter South African action director Franz Sphilhaus. The director hands over his hero Vidyut to him and the combination is pure magic. Perhaps one of India's best martial arts exponents (at least in the films); Vidyut is terrific.

With the stealth and dexterity of a jungle cat, this commando goes for the kill. For the first time in eons, the action scenes are totally convincing...and you can digest the fact that one man can kill them all and come back alone. If you are an action junkie and if you have peaked on Sylvester Stallone's Rambo-series, then our desi Commando, is what you will term paisa-vasool entertainment. The adrenaline rush stays with you, long after the lights come on.

Vidyut Jammwal is in top form, doing full justice to the job at hand.

Action superstars Akshay Kumar and Ajay Devgn may have superstardom and years of experience on their side; but Vidyut has the agility and novelty to match their moves. He's orgasmic to watch.

Pooja Chopra (Femina Miss India-2009) is super-confident in her film debut and a welcome addition to Bollywood's heroines.

One should also put in a couple of lines of praise for Jaideep Ahlawat, who has made the transition from a small part in the art-house Gangs of Wasseypur to the big-time Bollywood baddie. He's mean, menacing and maniacal without trying too hard.

Note: You may not like the film, if pure action, is not your staple at the movies.

The Place Beyond the Pines:

Critic's Rating: 

Cast: Ryan Gosling, Eva Mendes, Bradley Cooper, Ray Liotta

Direction: Derek Cianfrance

Genre: Drama

Duration: 2 hours 30 minutes

Story: A daredevil motorcycle rider resorts to robbing banks to support his newborn son and lover. It is a decision that proves to have major consequences.

Movie Review: It's the opening, retro-cool extended tracking shot where Luke ( Ryan Gosling) gets ready for his daredevil biking act that first gets you. The camera follows him from his trailer to the Big Top, where two other riders await him. They go about their act, eliciting gasps of awe, before the frame ends. It's like a metaphor for the entire movie. Separate lives, yet intertwined in an intricately-constructed ride.

His former lover, Romina ( Eva Mendes) walks into his life again. Soon, Luke finds out Romina's got a baby son. Sincere to a fault, he quits his act and embarks on a tag team bank robbery spree with grimy backwoods mechanic Robin (Ben Mendelsohn). All of this, so he can buy stuff for his baby and hand Romina wads of dollar bills. Although never too far from his dirt bike, he loves his role as father and provider.

The second 'act' of the movie belongs to Avery Cross ( Bradley Cooper), a cop-with-a-conscience who stays away from histrionics. A collision with Luke becomes inevitable. Stone-faced Deluca ( Ray Liotta) is the dirty cop played to perfection.

While the only weak link is Avery's kid AJ Cross (Emory Cohen), Dane DeHaan (Luke and Romina's teenage son, Jason) is someone to watch out for. Essentially three films cohesively segued into one, the narrative's complexity never once becomes overwrought.

An ambitious film, Cianfrance aims for higher ground, and gets there with ease. Ryan Gosling's act gives method acting a new meaning - it is elegance in itself. And incidentally, the English translation of the Mohawk word Schenectady (the town where the movie unfolds), is 'the place beyond the pines'.

Note: You will not like this film if you don't like dramatic movies about inter-connected lives.

Nautanki Saala!:

Critic's Rating: 

Cast: Ayushmann Khurrana, Kunaal Roy Kapur, Pooja Salvi, Gaelyn Mendonca, Evelyn Sharma

Direction: Rohan Sippy

Genre: Romantic Comedy

Duration: 2 hours 10 minutes

Story: All the world's a stage for theatre actor Ram Parmar. In an effort to resurrect his chronic-depressive friend's life, he upstages a real-life drama; to find himself enacting a part he'd never imagined.

Movie Review: Picture this: Ram dons Raavan's avatar. Sita zips off on a scooty with 'beary' 'good friend' Hanuman. Laksman is out of sight. And a brand new Ramleela plays out; where even the mighty Raavan (with all ten heads) can't crack his part. Gods must be crazy, alright, in this kalyug ki Ramayan. More comedy, less chastity. More drama, less dagabaaz.

The stage is set and it's showtime folks. All starting one night when theater actor/director Ram Parmar (Ayushmann) saves a lonely soul, Mandar Lele (Kunaal) from committing suicide. In a godly act, Ram takes on the sole responsibility (no divine intervention, please) of giving loser Lele a new lease of life. Ram trains him to enact (Lord) Ram in his play Raavan-Leela, while he also dramatizes a series of acts to reunite Lele with his estranged lovergal, Nandini (Pooja). Romeo-Juliet RIP! There's more drama coming up. All hell (or is it heaven) break loose in Ram's life when he crosses the lakshman rekha. The acts get mixed up, roles reversed; ironically his self-created Ram katha goes kaput, leading to a comedy of errors of 'epic' proportions. Call it Act of God if you wish! (Hey, Ram!)

It's time for curtain calls. Thou art Ayushmann, take a bow. This natural nautanki hits target once again. He role-plays with perfect comic timing and superb confidence. Ayushmann bhava! Kunaal is also effortlessly excellent, adding drama and hilarity. What's best is the boys pitch the dramedy without much melodrama. Applause! Pooja looks too unrehearsed to get her act right and Gaelyn (as Ram's girlfriend) manages to breeze through.

Rohan Sippy plays his part well too. The story is refreshing; the theater-like treatment (sets, props, costumes) is dramatically different. The background score blends smoothly and the quirky humour comes alive in the irony of situations and performances (unlike the monotony of hammy slapstick). The second half slows down with predictable acts, and Ram's godliness is too unreal, yet making you guffaw like Raavan on steroids.

This is no Shakespearean act, but there's enough drama, demons and devtaas to rival our desi phantoms of the operas.

Oblivion:

Critic's Rating: 

Cast: Tom Cruise, Andrea Riseborough, Olga Kurylenko, Morgan Freeman

Direction: Joseph Kosinski

Genre: Sci-Fi

Duration: 2 hours 5 minutes

Story: Earth is destroyed while repelling an alien invasion. 60 years later, Jack (Tom Cruise) a drone repairman, is assigned to a nuclear-ravaged earth to save humanity. He patrols the wrecked planet and kills alien scavengers. However, a few recurring dreams make him question his mission and identity.

Movie Review: Assisting Jack is Vika ( Andrea Riseborough) who monitors his activities and sends help. The two hope to emigrate the humans left on earth to Titan (Saturn's moon) for mankind to survive. However, random memory flashes of a woman ( Olga Kurylenko) in pre-war New York leave Jack pondering his past.

Oblivion is not your video game-esque, fast-paced sci-fi action film which offers cheap thrills. It's a profound, cerebral drama which focuses on Jack's inner journey and his relentless search for identity.

In spite of Joseph Kosinski's unhurried approach towards the film's buildup, he manages to keep you thoroughly engaged, thanks to brilliant production design and clever imagination. Spectacular images of planetary ruin, ravaged surfaces, barren landscapes, floating houses on the clouds, futuristic aircrafts, powerful drones and the strength of a complex restless mind, Oblivion manages to capture the beauty of it all with astounding reality.

In terms of story-telling, the film stays unpredictable, thus convincing us to patiently wait as the mystery unfolds, even when it feels a tad directionless at times. Like a novel, the film stays unputdownable till the end.

After Jack Reacher, 'I-want-to-be-versatile' Tom Cruise once again slips into a role which does not require his trademark charm or good looks and succeeds better this time as the role doesn't require him to be stoic either. Cruise displays the inner turmoil of his character brilliantly, in spite of not having any memorable dialogues at his disposal. Unfortunately, Morgan Freeman is wasted.

Oblivion is primarily a great visual experience. The mystifying sombreness of a post-apocalyptic earth has been captured brilliantly.

Note: You may not like the film if you do not like slow-paced science-fiction movies, high on human emotions.

Jurassic Park 3D:

Critic's Rating: 

Cast: Sam Neill, Laura Dern, Jeff Goldblum, Richard Attenborough

Direction: Steven Spielberg

Genre: Adventure

Duration: 2 hours 6 minutes

Story: Spielberg's 1993 epic blockbuster has been re-mastered into 3D, so that fans can revisit the classic in theatres, while the younger ones can get introduced to the cult dinosaur disaster movie with enhanced viewing experience.

Review: There is something about disaster films that make us want to watch them over and over again. While watching others battle hard to survive a catastrophe, you subconsciously become those characters, which ensures an adrenalin rush. Their fear and courage engulf you, enabling you to live the adventure you see on the big screen. Who better than Steven Spielberg to help you do so!

20 years back, ripples were not just created in the glasses of water kept on the dashboard of a car in the film's iconic scene, marking the thunderous footsteps of an approaching dinosaur, but also at the box office as the 'first-of-its-kind' eco-horror took the audiences by storm. The re-release of the triple Oscar-winning movie gives you an opportunity to watch the lunging velociraptors and T. Rexes in 3D.

But before the fun part (dinosaur attack) begins, the opening half of the film does seem a bit 'old-fashioned' in its slow and gradual build-up. Lectures on the science of 'cloning dinosaurs', DNA, etc., along with an introduction to the paleontologists and scientists who are invited to millionaire John Hammond's ( Richard Attenborough) island theme park 'Jurassic Park' for a preview make you a tad impatient. Post-that, you are kept on the edge of your seat till the end, with not just impactful CGI and 3D but also by striking an emotional chord with you.

Dr. Alan Grant's ( Sam Neill) rapport with the kids, Ian Malcolm's ( Jeff Goldblum) sharp one-liners and John Hammond's (Richard Attenborough) heartfelt love for his dangerous theme park is simply wonderful.

In times of Life of Pi and Avatar, the 3D doesn't seem outstanding but nowhere does it fall short of giving you goosebumps, especially in the brilliant scene towards the end, when velociraptors stalk the kids in the kitchen. While Spielberg's story-telling still stays the film's USP, the 3D does add to its brilliance. Here's looking forward to Jurassic Park 4 in 2014!

Note: You may not like the movie if you lack patience to sit through a re-mastered classic.

The Call:

Critic's Rating: 

Cast: Halle Berry, Abigail Breslin, Evie Thompson, Morris Chestnut, Michael Eklund

Direction: Brad Anderson

Genre: Thriller

Duration: 1 hour 34 minutes

Story: A 911 phone operator gets a call that leads her on a chase to rescue a young woman who has been kidnapped by a lunatic.

Movie Review: *The Call* starts out promisingly enough: Jordan Turner (Halle Berry) is a police psychologist who does her 911 call centre day job with dedication, channeling emergency calls to the local cops. Autumn (Ella Rae Peck) and her pal Casey Welson ( Abigail Breslin) enjoy their last lunch before the latter gets abducted by a psychotic Michael Foster ( Michael Eklund). Turner gets a distress call from Casey which makes her revisit a gruesome memory from her own past. Turner breaks her own rule of not getting 'attached' to callers and takes it upon herself to play part-investigator, part-vigilante and help rescue the panic-stricken Casey who faces the danger of death.

Considering that this is a movie where most of the time, two people are agitatedly talking (one screaming and the other cajoling) over the phone,the tension is taut. True to thriller-film methodology, there are plenty of edge-of-the-seat moments that will keep you glued to your seat. However, it is odd that Halle Berry, who has won an Oscar, would do these kinds of movies that hover between having a barely-there plot to being a bland mess.

Eklund's character seems to be just thrown in without any explanation as to what made him a kidnapping, murderous lunatic. The cops come across as patsies who can't think for themselves and instead, rely on the harrowed Jordan for instructions about what to do next. The torment that Casey undergoes will get you in the gut. But what does it all amount to? Casey is almost reduced to a vehicle for Turner to exorcise her past demons. Nonetheless, it is Berry and Breslin's performances that keep this movie buoyant and provide the thrills.

Chashme Baddoor:

Critic's Rating: 

Cast: Ali Zafar, Siddharth, Divyendu Sharma, Taapsee Pannu, Lillette Dubey, Anupam Kher, Rishi Kapoor

Direction: David Dhawan

Genre: Comedy

Duration: 2 hours 11 minutes

Story: Shy Siddharth loves feisty Seema - but his buddies falsely boast of flings with her, breaking the couple up. Can love be remade?

Movie Review: The answer's yes - love can be remade and so can a lovely film like 1981's Chashme Buddoor (CB). This version's as different as paapri chaat from a dhokla. But it retains the original's madness, masti and movie-mania. The remixed CB unrolls in Goa where phatichar shayar Omi (Sharma) is addressing, ahem, the St. Stephens College of Arts and Science, while wanna-be hero Jai (Siddharth) is over-acting into a rape scene. Watching the dolts in full bloom, CB has you chuckling from the start. Things only get better when sober Sid (Zafar) pops up, yodels with his cheap chums and explains their drought of dough to doughty cafe owner Joseph Futado (Kapoor) and landlady Josephine (Dubey). Meanwhile, Seema (Pannu) is escaping an arranged marriage, scooting towards the three idiots. Love happens - but after lust, lies and lots of laughs.

CB's boy-band impresses with consistent acting. With his silky sleaziness, Sharma often steals the show while Siddharth's comic rhythm is a revelation. Zafar is endearing with his clenched-jaw charm, graceful as he dances, cute as he romances and rather hot when he throws a punch or two. Pannu's bubbly without being overwhelming while Kapoor and Dubey light up the screen with their little love story - hardcore CB fans, you'll find their romance does chamko!

But the star remains the story, spicily modernized, yet its salt still that passion for filmi fun, rainy moments, shared chattris, judwaa bhais, overpowering Ma's, red coats-yellow pants (Dhawan clearly enjoying a Govinda flashback), cheap shers, cheaper lusts and triumphant love. CB's music is catchy, its lines too - "Bomb woh thi, blast main ho gaya!" - while the hilarity underlines the wise adage: friends stab you in the front but good friendship deserves chashme buddoor.

Watch it zaroor.

NOTE: You will not like this movie if you don't like corny, occasionally bawdy jokes.

G. I. Joe: Retaliation:

Critic's Rating: 

Cast: Dwayne Johnson, Bruce Willis, Adrianne Palicki, Channing Tatum, Byung-hun Lee, Jonathan Pryce, Arnold Vosloo, Ray Stevenson

Direction: Jon M. Chu

Genre: Action

Duration: 1 hour 55 minutes

Story: When elite US fighting force, G.I . Joes, get picked off and eliminated with extreme prejudice by their own government (specifically, the President), you have to ask: who's really calling the shots?

Review: The Joes get sent to Pakistan to retrieve nuclear warheads but it all goes horribly wrong with the 'enemy' possibly being their own President. But why would he do that, right?

Anyway, the survivors return, with Roadblock (Johnson) taking charge of the severely depopulated unit comprising Lady Jaye (Palicki) and Flint (D J Cotrona). Gen Joe Colton (Willis) reluctantly pitches in along with G.I Joe Snake Eyes and new recruit Jynx, bringing them closer to their enemy Cobra Commander and his minions Firefly (Stevenson) and Zartan (Vosloo).

Director Jon Chu takes over from Stephen Sommers in the second installment of this toy-line-inspired franchise and that's surprising. Chu is best known for his dance films (Step Up 2, Step Up 3D) while Sommers is an all-action man, having former experience in helming a franchise exceedingly well (The Mummy series).

To his credit, Chu doesn't disappoint, keeping your interest in the film unwavering at a sharp 115 minutes. For those unfamiliar with the characters, there's a visual introduction at the start. The action sequences impress and the banter is at par with the standard fare dished out these days.

Dwayne Johnson aka The Rock is always a safe bet. Almost-Wonder Woman Adrianne Palicki is easy on the eyes and her brief chemistry with Bruce Willis is crackling indeed. Worth noting is one of the climax scenes that seems thought-provoking yet has been executed quite frivolously.

That being said, this one's worth the price of the ticket and the 3D's actually not unnecessarily painful. Give it a shot. After all, revenge flicks are such guilty pleasures, no?

Aatma:

Critic's Rating: 

Cast: Bipasha Basu, Nawazuddin Siddiqui, Doyel Dhawan

Direction: Suparn Verma

Genre: Drama

Duration: 1 hour 30 minutes

Story: A woman finds her and her daughter's life in danger after her past comes haunting!

Movie Review: Abhay (Nawazuddin Siddiqui) is a doting dad but an erratic and suspicious husband. His love for daughter Nia (Doyel Dhawan) is as deep as his hatred for wife Maya (Bipasha Basu). After it becomes impossible to bear his violent nature and decipher his whimsical attitude, Maya decides to part ways. She hopes for a better future with Nia, but destiny has different plans. Her disturbing past comes haunting, pushing her to a breaking point and risking the lives of those involved.

Aatma is not a full-fledged horror film with ugly demons and gruesome deaths. It attempts to play with your mind and even succeeds, though partially. The film takes off swiftly, coming straight to the point. Burning candles, thunderous rain and sleepless nights, Suparn manages to subtly induce the 'shock' element, especially in the form of Maya's eerie nightmares. It sets the mood perfectly for a supernatural thriller. The 'Aatma' here is unconventional too, considering there is no over-the-top demonic 'look' to it. No typical background score is used to create atmosphere either. The film skillfully manages to be different from most in its genre.

However, it loses grip as it proceeds. The second half gets predictable, repetitive and formulaic, making the climax look a tad inconsequential in spite of the twist. The 'fear of the unknown' gets replaced by zombie-like killings, making you wonder what led to the random transition. The special effects are not up to the mark either. Those who have seen Andres Muschietti's spooky horror 'Mama' will be able to draw similarities between the two in terms of concept.

Bipasha Basu is impressive as the harrowed mother who shows immense patience in tackling this paranormal situation. She looks equally stunning sans makeup. The immensely talented Nawazuddin Siddiqui unfortunately looks out of place, a misfit in the role. The very cute Doyel Dhawan is perfect as Nia.

Aatma may not send shivers down your spine, but it dares to be unconventional.